Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 24 Celebrate Christ in a Big Way December 9, 2025 - It's no secret that the Christmas season can be hectic, overloaded with activities, and overwhelming. Why is that? I believe the chaos comes when we direct our focus on what matters less instead of focusing on what, or rather Who, matters most. So this year, why not make Christ the central focus of every holiday celebration? Does that mean that Santa and jingle bells have no place? That's for you to...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 23 Celebrate Christ Every Day December 2, 2025 - When asked on which day Christmas is primarily celebrated, most people would agree on December 25th. But what if you received a calendar that had Christmas Day printed on EVERY day of the year? Would you be annoyed, grateful, or a little of both? I put up my small artificial Christmas tree before Halloween in 2024. There was a video that included my tree that I was planning on posting on Christmas Day last...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 22 Celebrate Cold Turkey November 25, 2025 - It's Meleagris gallopavo time! Never heard of the term? Well, when you sit down for your Thanksgiving feast this week that's what you'll be eating - a domesticated version of this scientific term - more commonly known as the lowly turkey. While there's no evidence that turkey (with or without gravy and stuffing) was served at that first Thanksgiving dinner, what we do know is that Benjamin Franklin thought...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 21 Celebrate As You Please November 18, 2025 - In your Thanksgiving celebrations, is there "way" too much chaos and noise, or "way" too many dirty dishes, or trips to the grocery story? Then it just might be time to simplify your celebration this year and choose to do things as you please, to celebrate in the right way for you and your loved ones. Sure there are traditional foods: in the U.S. that includes turkey, stuffing, rolls, pies, pies, and more...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 20 Celebrate Gratitude November 11, 2025 - I found this shuttle at "Thanksgiving Point" an "indoor and outdoor farm, garden, and museum complex" near my home in Utah. The point of the shuttle is to take you to the various attractions on the nearly 50-acre location. So what is the point of Thanksgiving as a holiday? Some people are offended by the notion of a Thanksgiving feast between pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. But I...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 19 Celebrate the Seasons November 4, 2025 - Now that Halloween is past, we move into what is commonly called the Holiday Seasons. Google tells me that this includes Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's. While you may not, and probably don't, celebrate all of these, you more than likely can find something to get excited about over the next couple of months. What does the word celebration mean to you? Family? Food? Fun? Festivities?...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 18 Radioactive Reunions October 28, 2025 - With Halloween just around the corner, we've arrived at the end of our taphophile travels. And you'll be glad to know that I saved the best - or rather - the creepiest, cemetery story for the last. In its simplest definition, radioactive refers to something that emits, or is capable of emitting, energy. In my visit to the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Magna, Utah, I learned a thing or two about radioactivity,...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 17 Swallowed Up October 21, 2025 - What do you think of when you see the phrase "swallowed up"? My mind tends to go to the Bible story of Jonah and the three days he spent in the belly of whale. But that's probably not going to be a reality for any of us. What then could it mean for you and me in our daily lives? Being "swallowed up" in this sense more than likely refers to being overwhelmed by responsibilities, tasks, unresolved conflict, or uncertainty....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 16 A Chair of Charity October 14, 2025 - As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to "mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort." While this may feel like a simple instruction, some times we just don't know what to say. Here are a few thoughts that might help. While you may feel uncomfortable approaching someone in mourning, the worst thing to do is to do nothing. See past your discomfort to reach out to comfort them. If...
2 months ago • 1 min read